Editorial: Army investigation is highly warranted

Wednesday, May 8, 2002 | 8:36 a.m.

One of the first things an Army recruit learns is the chain of command. When a legal order is given, you follow it -- no whining to the captain to rearrange the first-sergeant's roster for latrine duty. Apparently some high-ranking Army officials in the Pentagon never learned about the chain of command -- which has civilians at the top -- or simply ignored this basic rule that makes the military work.

Last week when Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced he was killing the $11 billion Crusader Artillery System, some members of the Army provided "talking points" and other information to members of Congress who support Crusader. At first, Secretary of the Army Thomas White was suspected, but on Tuesday Rumsfeld said he was convinced the secretary was not to blame. An Army inspector general's investigation is under way to pinpoint those responsible.

If it turns out that members of Congress contacted Army officials for information, the breach would be more understandable. But if members of the Army, on their own initiative, contacted Congress, disciplinary proceedings should get under way. The whole military system depends on respecting the legal orders as they come down from the chain of command. It would all be dismantled, at great peril to the country's defense, if everybody were allowed to go behind their commander's back if they didn't like the order.

AT ISSUE:

Army officials provided information designed to assist Congress in overturning a decision by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

OUR TAKE:

Members of the military must respect the chain of command regarding legal orders and decisions.